Read
the tenth chapter of John carefully. You will find that the Lord Jesus Christ,
as our good Shepherd has voluntarily assumed all responsibility for his sheep.
What blessed comfort this affords to his sheep!

Sheep are weak, helpless, defenseless creatures. They have no strength to
withstand their enemies. If they are lost, they cannot find their way home
again. If sick, they cannot fight off their disease. If threatened, they cannot
run fast enough to escape danger. If attacked, they cannot defend themselves.

The only security sheep have is in their shepherd. If their shepherd is wise,
good, and strong, they are secure. If the sheep survive, if they live and
flourish, the honor belongs to the shepherd. If the sheep perish, the blame belongs
to the shepherd. It is the shepherd’s responsibility to keep the sheep.

The doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ is very plain. We who believe are Christ’s
sheep, weak, helpless, defenseless creatures. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, is our Shepherd, wise, good, and strong. Because Christ is our Shepherd,
we are secure in him. This is what the Son of God, our dear Shepherd, says
concerning all his sheep: “They shall never perish!” Those
words declare and assure us of the absolute, infallible, unwavering security of
God’s elect in Christ.

I
realize that many pervert the doctrine of Holy Scripture concerning the eternal
security and preservation of God’s elect in Christ. Many twist it into a lie to
the eternal ruin of their souls. They attempt to justify their ungodliness by
claiming to believe in God’s sovereignty to the exclusion of all
responsibility. They try to soothe their consciences with the delusion that
they really are saved, though they live in utter, abhorrent ungodliness. Others
cry, “Such preaching as that promotes lawlessness and antinomianism.” Because
they must be ruled by law, they presumed that everyone must. Because they are
forced servants and mercenary soldiers, they presume that there is no such
thing as voluntary obedience to the Son of God.

I am sorry for that; but I
will not hold back the truth of God for fear that some godless wretch will
pervert it or be offended by it. Our Lord never hesitated to preach the truth,
even when he knew that the people to whom he was preaching would twist his
words, pervert his doctrine, or be offended by the gospel he preached. Christ
preached the fulfilment of the law; and his enemies said, “He is an enemy of the law.” Our Lord preached election; and they
took up stones to kill him. The Son of God preached the free forgiveness of
sin; and they said, “He is the friend of
publicans and sinners, a promoter of licentiousness.” Christ preached moral
freedom, freedom of conscience, and his enemies said, “He is a glutton and a wine bibber.”

Following the example of Christ, I intend to
ever set before you, in the clearest terms possible, the absolute security and
preservation of God’s elect in Christ. Some may be confused by it. Some may
twist and pervert my doctrine to the ruin of their souls. For believers, the
doctrine of the believer’s infallible security in Christ is full of comfort,
assurance and inspiration. It is the greatest motive and incentive there is for
godliness.